Transcript Highlights:

• > Services<00:25:03.399> which<00:25:03.520> is<00:25:03.720> before<00:25
• <00:25:06.880> for<00:25:07.159> K<00:25:07.440> through<00:25:07.559> 8<
• :25:10.640> and<00:25:10.760> need<00:25:11.039> additional<00:25:11.520> time
• c><00:25:23.720> time<00:25:24.240> a<00:25:24.399> student<00:25:24.720> spends
• 01:25:04.040> one<01:25:04.360> kid<01:25:04.960> it's<01:25:05.119> money

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Again,<00:25:03.039> um<00:25:03.360> a<00:25:03.679> state<00:25:03.919> tax
• <00:25:29.200> barrage<00:25:29.679> of<00:25:29.840> states<00:25:30.240>
• funds<00:25:34.400> or<00:25:34.960> partial<00:25:35.440> grant,<00:25:35.919><
• /c><00:25:49.440> funding<00:25:50.240> to<00:25:50.880> goose<00:25:51.279>
• <00:25:54.320> It<00:25:54.559> might<00:25:54.720> not<00:25:54.799> be<

Keywords: Meeting Start 00:00:15 Roll Call 00:00:45 Discussion of Pro-Growth Housing Policies 00:02:33 Adjournment 01:17:15, 958, all

Summary: The Housing Task Force 2.0 reconvened with several new members and heard a presentation from Kentucky Housing Corporation Executive Director Winston Miller and Deputy Executive Director Wendy Smith. They framed the task force’s work as a practical effort to address Kentucky’s housing shortage, update members on the current housing landscape, summarize existing state and federal resources, and suggest areas for the task force to focus on over the coming year. KHC said its 2024 housing supply gap analysis found Kentucky is short about 206,000 housing units, split roughly evenly between rental and homeownership, and projected the gap could grow to 287,000 units by 2029 if current trends continue. They emphasized that every county in Kentucky needs more housing, that the 2008 housing crisis and loss of construction capacity remain major causes of the shortage, and that current pressures include high interest rates, rising insurance and tax costs, construction cost inflation, and housing prices and rents growing faster than incomes. KHC also said homelessness has risen in Kentucky, with point-in-time counts showing double-digit increases in recent years. The presenters reviewed existing resources, including federal programs, the Kentucky Affordable Housing Trust Fund, the rural housing trust fund, KHC mortgage and down payment assistance programs, and the state mortgage interest deduction. They said these resources are important but insufficient to close the gap, and noted that a proposed federal FY2026 budget would cut HUD programs by 44%, potentially removing about $286 million from Kentucky housing resources, though no action has been taken yet. They urged the task force to consider stronger, more flexible tools such as a revolving loan fund, a state affordable housing tax credit, and economic development and employer-assisted housing incentives, and pointed to Indiana’s housing infrastructure and regional development funds as examples. No votes or formal actions were taken in the portion provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• So<00:25:00.320> the<00:25:00.559> common<00:25:00.960> schools<00:25:01.440>
• 12.880> were<00:25:12.960> a<00:25:13.120> grant,<00:25:13.520> not<00:25
• >> So,<00:25:32.400> how<00:25:32.640> did<00:25:32.799> the<00:25:32.960>
• >> Mr.<00:25:38.559> Chairman,<00:25:38.960> I<00:25:39.120> didn't<00:25:
• 00:25:42.960> follow<00:25:43.200> up<00:25:43.360> and<00:25:43.520> get

Keywords: 916, all

Transcript Highlights:

• It's a bridge project, a bridge reconstruction project.
• projects, projects that they're doing?
• Maintenance projects, completed projects and maintenance: we completed $3.16 million worth of projects
• We had district-wide striping, sign replacement projects, I-25, more interstate.
• of projects.

Keywords: 996, all

Summary: The committee heard a District 5 New Mexico Department of Transportation presentation from Rhonda Lopez, who reviewed the district’s FY26 budget, staffing vacancies, and the status of special appropriations from 2020 through 2025. She described numerous completed and ongoing projects across the district, including roadway overlays, bridge work, intersection improvements, ADA upgrades, and maintenance projects, and also summarized STIP, TPF, LGRF, and equipment needs. Members asked about a guardrail issue near U.S. 64 in Hogback, the 5% local match for TPF projects, and the status of the New Mexico 371/U.S. 36 intersection funding agreement with the Navajo Nation; DOT said the match is secured or waived where applicable and that the Navajo agreement is nearly finalized. The committee then heard House Bill 270, which would amend the Public Works Apprentice Training Act to require contributions to apprenticeship and training programs for certain public works contracts, including highway-related work, while creating an exception where no approved apprenticeship program exists for a trade classification. The sponsor said the bill was intended to strengthen workforce development and support apprenticeship training. Contractors and asphalt industry representatives opposed the bill, arguing it would raise road project costs and duplicate existing training contributions. A motion to table failed on a tie, and a later motion to pass also failed on a tie, leaving the bill in committee. Next, the committee heard House Bill 322, which would create a transportation trust fund and transportation program fund, dedicate additional revenue sources including a portion of electricity GRT and motor vehicle excise tax, and begin annual distributions for federal matching funds in 2029. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would help address a multi-billion-dollar road funding gap, improve maintenance, and provide a stable source for matching federal dollars. Some members raised concerns about the electricity tax component, its effect on utility bills, and overlap with recently enacted transportation financing measures; others supported the concept but questioned timing and funding priorities. A motion on the bill resulted in a tie and failed, leaving the bill in committee. The meeting concluded with a District 4 NMDOT legislative presentation. The district outlined its geography, budget, staffing vacancy rate, completed special appropriations, active construction and maintenance projects, wildfire-related recovery work, local government funding allocations, and equipment replacement needs. Members asked about school district uses of local funding and the impact of aging equipment and weather on maintenance costs. The presentation ended without any formal action on District 4 items, and the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• water<01:25:42.720> from<01:25:43.000> set<01:25:43.200> aside<01:25:43.640
• :44.680> it<01:25:44.840> would<01:25:45.040> be<01:25:45.840> some<01:25
• <01:25:47.680> with<01:25:47.840> the<01:25:47.960> water<01:25:48.320> that
• > be<01:25:48.760> set<01:25:48.960> aside<01:25:49.280> to<01:25:49.360>
• Basically<01:25:50.760> the<01:25:50.880> ditch<01:25:51.160> system<01:25:51.600

Bills: HCR13, HCR61, HCR136, HCR185, HCR155, HCR68, HCR174, HCR178, HCR179, HCR91, HCR103, HCR115, HCR199, HR15, HR128, HR175, HR147, HR62, HR164, HR168, HR169, HR83, HR95, HR107, HR189

Keywords: coral reefs, sunscreen, environmental education, student stewardship, marine conservation, reforestation, Hawaii, Department of Land and Natural Resources, native forests, climate resilience, sustainable practices, economic opportunity, biodiversity, wildland-urban interface, WUI, wildfire mitigation, wildfire safety, Maui County, County of Maui, Kauai

Summary: The Committee on Water and Land met on March 31, 2026, and heard testimony on several resolutions. HCR 13/HR 50, which asks DLNR to work with DOE and the Public Charter School Commission on a student coral stewardship program, drew comments from DLNR, which said it stood on written testimony and had proposed amendments, and from supporters in the room. HCR 61, urging investment in reforestation policies, workforce, nursery capacity, and related support for public and private lands, received strong support from DLNR and multiple testifiers, including members of a reforestation policy hui, a resident, and others who emphasized watershed protection, flood and fire resilience, and the need to upgrade nursery infrastructure and staffing. Committee members asked questions about nursery modernization, staffing, island-specific needs, and whether reforestation could reduce wildfire impacts; the DLNR witness said all islands need investment, with especially large opportunities on Hawaiʻi Island, and that healthier forests improve resilience though they cannot eliminate climate-related risks. The committee then heard HCR 136/HR 128 on wildland-urban interface safety standards for Maui plantation towns, but no one testified. It also heard HCR 185/HR 175, which urges denial of permits for ICE detention-related warehouses; Chris Coffey of Immua Alliance testified in support, saying migrant survivors of exploitation are harmed when ICE detains people and that Hawaii would not be the first place to take such action, citing examples from other states and cities. In questioning, members explored whether a local facility would keep people closer to families and services or instead increase local detention; Coffey said detention generally cuts off access to services and can intensify fear, and that a local facility could incentivize more detention and make survivors less likely to come forward. Finally, the committee heard HCR 155/HR 147 supporting the Hawaii Water Safety Coalition’s Hawaii Water Safety Act. Testifiers included Allison Shapera, who described the statewide water safety plan, Hawaii’s high drowning rate, the economic and human costs of drownings, and her personal loss of her daughter in a preventable drowning; Kirsten Hermstead and Kalani Vierra of the Hawaiian Lifeguard Association said the plan’s recommendations need legislative recognition to help with implementation and grant funding; and Jessamine Town Horner testified by Zoom as a co-founder and bereaved family advocate. The transcript provided does not show any votes or final committee actions on the measures discussed.

Transcript Highlights:

• :42.039> am<00:25:42.360> I<00:25:43.360> okay<00:25:43.640> let's<00:25:
• <00:25:46.640> thank<00:25:46.840> you<00:25:47.679> okay<00:25:47.880> so
• /c><00:25:52.000> you<00:25:52.120> from<00:25:52.360> you<00:25:52.480> said
• Auto<00:25:54.399> I'm<00:25:54.520> from<00:25:54.600> Illinois<00:25:55.080
• c><01:25:03.199> those<01:25:03.480> income<01:25:03.840> taxes<01:25:04.199>

Bills: HF1277, HF1006

Keywords: data centers, tax exemption, Minnesota statutes, economic development, employment growth, property tax, abatement, land bank, redevelopment, political subdivision, 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Lang<00:25:00.440> is<00:25:00.600> always<00:25:00.920> important.
• For<00:25:07.480> all<00:25:07.760> those<00:25:08.120> all<00:25:08.400>
• > of<00:25:08.480> those<00:25:08.680> in<00:25:08.760> favor<00:25:09.040><
• I.<00:25:15.120> All<00:25:15.240> opposed<00:25:15.480> say<00:25:15.600> no
• <00:25:26.600> Chair,<00:25:26.760> can<00:25:26.920> I<00:25:26.960> just

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The eyes do have<00:25:35.440> it,<00:25:35.640> and<00:25:35.720> you<00:25:35.800
• c><00:25:37.640> 208<00:25:38.520> until<00:25:38.920> next<00:25:39.360> Tuesday
• Now,<00:25:40.880> we'll<00:25:41.040> turn<00:25:41.320> to<00:25:41.480> Senate
• The bill<00:25:47.640> was<00:25:47.800> referred<00:25:48.240> to<00:25:48.320>
• the<00:25:52.440> Senate<00:25:52.920> to<00:25:53.080> amend<00:25:53.400

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House first passed H.953, an act approving an amendment to the charter of the town of Panton, on third reading by voice vote. It then took up S.325 on regional planning and Act 250 tier jurisdiction, where a Lowell member offered an amendment to redefine conserved land for purposes of the conserved land inventory and Vermont’s conservation goals. The Speaker ruled that amendment not germane, and the House sustained that ruling. A separate Williamstown amendment to expand interim housing exemptions was then debated; supporters said it would help housing growth in already developed areas, including rural towns, while opponents from the Environment Committee and Ways and Means said it remained unfavorable and could affect towns that rely on Act 250 review. The House rejected that amendment by voice vote. A Barre City member then offered a wetlands amendment to limit Class 2 wetland buffers in targeted housing areas, arguing it would support housing in designated growth areas while still protecting most wetlands; after discussion, the member withdrew the amendment. The House then passed S.325 in concurrence with proposal of amendment by voice vote. The House next postponed action on S.208, relating to standards for law enforcement identification, for two legislative days. It then considered S.209, prohibiting civil arrest in sensitive locations. The Judiciary Committee explained that the bill expands existing civil-arrest protections beyond court proceedings to include schools, government buildings, DMV offices, libraries, polling places, social service sites, places of worship, camps, and health care facilities, while preserving exceptions for judicial warrants, court orders, contempt, and court security. The committee also described changes to remedies and definitions, including exclusions for temporary custody during a mental health crisis. Testimony cited included representatives from medical, immigrant justice, legal, library, municipal, faith, education, and civil rights groups; the bill was reported favorably by Judiciary on a 6-5 vote. A Bennington member offered an amendment to S.209 that would remove the governor’s statutory exemption to authorize 287(g) agreements, arguing such agreements can undermine due process, public safety, and trust in law enforcement. The Judiciary Committee had already found the amendment not germane, and the member withdrew it. Debate then continued on the committee-recommended bill, with a Sheldon member speaking from a law-enforcement perspective to argue Vermont already does not conduct civil immigration arrests and warning the bill could create confusion and liability for officers. The transcript ends during that discussion, before final action on S.209 is shown.

Transcript Highlights:

• :05.119> half<01:25:05.280> of<01:25:05.440> the<01:25:05.600> other<01:25
• :08.800> the<01:25:09.000> the<01:25:09.159> point<01:25:09.440> I'm<01:25
• how<01:25:36.960> am<01:25:37.080> I<01:25:37.199> going<01:25:37.320> to
• /c><01:25:42.480> create<01:25:43.280> hope<01:25:44.280> in<01:25:44.719> in
• > then<01:25:52.480> I<01:25:52.679> can't<01:25:53.119> we<01:25:53.320>

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• However,<00:25:00.720> the<00:25:01.039> real<00:25:01.279> cost,<00:25:01.679><
• Speaker, is likely<00:25:03.039> much<00:25:03.360> higher<00:25:04.320> as<00:25
• <00:25:32.400> Speaker,<00:25:32.799> including<00:25:33.279> in<00:25:33.600
• <00:25:37.760> and<00:25:38.080> drink<00:25:38.559> and<00:25:38.720> retail
• These<00:25:47.760> same<00:25:48.159> small<00:25:48.559> businesses,<00:25:49.120

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The project has become kind of a very big project for the state of New Mexico, and it is directly related
• Also at MNERD on page 11, $25 million for the community energy project completion.
• energy project completion.
• The local projects are on the one above, line 381, the Transportation Project Fund.
• That's for your local projects.

Bills: SB193, SB132, SB35, SB145

Keywords: SB193, acequia, community ditch, irrigation works construction fund, water infrastructure, ditch infrastructure, irrigation, New Mexico water law, agricultural water, farmers, Rio Grande, acequia association, forest land protection revolving fund, state fund transfer, irrigation projects, SB132, DOIT, Department of Information Technology, software replacement, equipment replacement

Transcript Highlights:

• For that 25-mile bypass, this is 2016-2017. They were projecting 50 million for a 25-mile bypass.
• To the trucks that will be coming through when our project, and our project is going to bring incredible
• This project that I have here, there's a presentation that I gave to you, is a beautification project
• It's a grant program for local governments, and it provides funding for projects at a 75-25% match.
• And the next we have phased projects, meaning that we've already funded part of the project, and they

Transcript Highlights:

• > do<00:25:03.120> have<00:25:03.520> some<00:25:03.760> of<00:25:03.840>
• <00:25:11.360> uh<00:25:11.760> but<00:25:12.080> a<00:25:12.320> whole
• > I<00:25:31.120> don't<00:25:31.200> know<00:25:31.200> if<00:25:31.360>
• you<00:25:31.520> want<00:25:31.600> to<00:25:31.760> call<00:25:31.840>
• <00:25:42.000> Uh<00:25:42.320> you<00:25:42.559> may<00:25:42.799> get

Keywords: 958, all

Summary: The interim task force on disaster prevention and resiliency met for its fourth meeting and focused heavily on insurance markets, affordability, and mitigation. Cochairs noted they are working toward recommendations for a later fall meeting. The main presentation came from David Snyder of the American Property Casualty Insurance Association, who said the insurance industry sees itself as part of the problem and part of the solution because it ultimately pays for losses created by natural conditions, development choices, and construction practices. Snyder described rising losses from natural catastrophes, inflation-driven increases in rebuilding and repair costs, more development in disaster-prone areas, wildfire exposure, severe convective storms, hail, and roof damage. He argued that Kentucky should avoid the mistakes he attributed to California, where regulatory responses contributed to a strained insurance market and greater reliance on the FAIR Plan. He said Kentucky’s private market appears to be functioning better, with relatively few FAIR Plan policies, and urged lawmakers to preserve that market through risk-based rates and policies that do not worsen availability. He recommended a broad mitigation strategy involving stronger building codes, land-use decisions, stormwater infrastructure, public access to risk data, and incentives for resilient construction. He highlighted programs such as the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, fortified-home standards, wildfire-prepared community practices, and examples from Alabama, Louisiana, and Florida showing that mitigation can produce quick returns and insurance discounts. He also suggested catastrophe savings accounts, flexible coverage options, and a whole-of-government approach that includes the insurance department, building-code agencies, first responders, FEMA, NFIP, and NOAA. In questions, a legislator asked about the prognosis if carriers continue exiting markets and if nothing is done to address affordability and accessibility. Snyder said he could not predict market exits but stressed that regulators should monitor the market closely, use available data, and focus on loss prevention and mitigation. He said insurers want to do business in Kentucky and that the long-term solution is coordinated action among public and private stakeholders to reduce risk and keep coverage available.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:25:16.320> And<00:25:16.560> so<00:25:16.800> is<00:25:17.480> is
• 00:25:19.120> to<00:25:19.240> be<00:25:19.320> able<00:25:19.440> to<00:
• so<00:25:19.960> that<00:25:20.080> we<00:25:20.160> can<00:25:20.320> see
• :25:32.080> to<00:25:32.360> work<00:25:32.640> on<00:25:32.800> this.
• :25:59.080> uh<00:25:59.160> it<00:25:59.280> got<00:25:59.480> lost.

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• > technician<00:25:20.320> to<00:25:20.440> the<00:25:20.520> Board<00:25
• And<00:25:22.920> then<00:25:23.040> it<00:25:23.120> also<00:25:23.400> removes
• 00:25:27.400> that<00:25:27.560> they<00:25:27.720> have<00:25:27.920> asked<
• This measure<00:25:29.480> comes<00:25:29.840> from<00:25:30.000> the<00:25:30.080
• I<00:25:33.440> will<00:25:33.560> yield<00:25:33.720> for<00:25:33.800> any<

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 9 March, 2026; 4:00 PM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate convened with a quorum present, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, and then handled a series of introductions and announcements. Members welcomed guests in the gallery, recognized the doctor of the day, and later made several announcements about memorials, committee meeting times, and calendar deadlines. The chamber also agreed to dispense with the reading of the journal and the titles of bills and resolutions. The body then took up multiple measures, mostly on the appropriations, rules, and general bills calendars. Among the bills discussed and passed were House Bill 941 on the Mississippi Healthcare Industry Zone Act, with an amendment changing the repealer date to 2028; House Bill 1633 on the Site Development Grant Program, with a strike-all clarifying eligible utility and site-improvement expenditures; House Bill 1404 on fraudulent utility conversion, with a substitute strike-all adding protections and criminal penalties related to landlords failing to pay tenant-funded utilities; House Bill 907 revising the timing for sample ballots from the Secretary of State; House Bill 867 allowing Ross Barnett Reservoir funds to be used for shoreline maintenance and erosion prevention; House Bill 1558 revising compensation and reimbursement for the Tishomingo County Water District; and House Bill 514 revising the Veterinary Practice Act to protect certified veterinary technicians and update board membership and fees. Several other measures were also addressed, including Senate Bill 2648, which would let the MSU Extension Service assist poultry farmers with comprehensive nutrient management plans and was amended by the House to add Alcorn State University; Senate Bill 2637, on flexibility for the Northeast District livestock show location, on which the Senate voted not to concur and invite conference; House Bill 1069, the Mississippi Agriculture and Farmland Wind Tower Protection Act of 2026, which was amended to shift review of a waterfowl impact assessment to the Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks and impose a one-year moratorium with a study committee; House Bill 1073, a consumer choice bill restricting bans on gas-powered farm equipment and lawn tools; House Bill 942 extending the chiropractic licensure repealer and allowing certain animal chiropractic work under veterinarian supervision; and House Bill 479, which extended temporary licensing timeframes for psychology and marriage and family therapy and added safeguards tied to background checks and qualifications. Most of these measures were adopted and passed by voice vote or by afternoon or morning roll call, with a few items retained on the calendar and several motions to reconsider or hold bills for later action.

Transcript Highlights:

• next<00:25:02.320> uh<00:25:02.520> agency<00:25:03.000> that's<00:25:03.200>
• or as<00:25:14.360> we<00:25:14.480> will<00:25:14.679> always<00:25:14.919>
• call<00:25:15.080> it<00:25:15.200> here<00:25:15.600> Bowser<00:25:16.600>
• <00:25:21.000> the<00:25:21.320> current<00:25:21.720> base<00:25:22.039>
• :25:26.559> the<00:25:26.679> current<00:25:26.960> bium<00:25:27.480> in

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Summary: Chair Foung Hawj opened the Environment, Climate and Legacy Committee meeting by welcoming members, agency staff, and constituents, and by outlining the committee’s shared-power arrangement for the session. Members introduced themselves and described environmental activities from the interim, including gardening, outdoor recreation, farming visits, Great Lakes work, and a tree-planting trip in Thailand that Hawj said symbolized cultural unity and environmental stewardship. Ben Stanley, the committee’s nonpartisan counsel, then explained the co-chairs’ operating agreement: Hawj would chair the meeting, Senator John Hoffman would chair the next two meetings, then Hawj would chair the following two, with the chair rotating after each pair of meetings. Agendas would be set jointly, additional meetings would require both chairs’ approval, and passing a bill out of committee would require a majority of all committee members, or seven votes. At Senator Tory Westrom’s request, the agreement was to be emailed to members in writing. Stanley also reviewed the committee’s jurisdiction, which includes environmental and natural resources bills, legacy funds, and agencies such as the Environmental Quality Board, Department of Natural Resources, Pollution Control Agency, and Board of Water and Soil Resources, along with several related councils and boards. Fiscal analyst Dan Mueller then gave a budget overview of the committee’s agencies, noting that many current biennium appropriations include one-time general fund money that drops back in the 2026-27 base budget. He highlighted funding levels for the Pollution Control Agency, DNR, Metro Parks, Conservation Corps, BWSR, the Minnesota Zoo, the Science Museum, and the Metropolitan Landfill Contingency Action Trust Account, and said the committee’s base-budget area totals about $2.2 billion. He also reviewed the Legacy funds, estimating available 2026-27 appropriations of about $327 million for Outdoor Heritage, $31.7 million for Clean Water, $133 million for Parks and Trails, and $185 million for Arts and Cultural Heritage. No votes or bill actions were taken at this meeting.

Transcript Highlights:

• Indivisible<00:25:05.600> Hawaii<00:25:06.000> in<00:25:06.240> support.
• <00:25:16.720> My<00:25:16.880> name<00:25:16.960> is<00:25:17.120> Yang<
• .<00:25:20.880> Um<00:25:21.679> we<00:25:21.919> are<00:25:22.960> in<00
• Kawaii<01:25:03.520> County<01:25:03.840> Council<01:25:04.239> member<01:25:05.199
• <01:25:10.320> And<01:25:10.480> members,<01:25:10.880> you<01:25:11.120>

Bills: SB2190, SB2338, SB2424, SB2356, SB2981, SB3028, SB3187, SB2378, SB2398, SB2192, SB2155, SB3219, SB3218

Keywords: affordable housing, employment contracts, salary caps, housing finance, public housing authority, executive compensation, parking minimums, off-street parking, transit-oriented development, TOD, housing supply, smart growth, redevelopment, adaptive reuse, micro units, rail transit, public transit stations, county zoning, land use, urban planning

Summary: The House Housing Committee heard testimony on a series of housing-related Senate bills. SB 2190 SD2 on inclusionary zoning drew support from HHFDC, Hawaii YIMBY, Grassroot Institute, Housing Hawaii’s Future, and Hako Seed Center, with opposition from OHA and Aloha Independent Living Hawaii. SB 2338 SD1, dealing with housing agency personnel authority, received comments from the Attorney General cautioning that the bill should be clarified to avoid conflicts with civil service and collective bargaining laws and recommending removal of a provision limiting employment contracts; HHFDC said its comments addressed those concerns and supported the measure. SB 2424 SD1, concerning HHFDC, received broad support from housing, business, and community groups, with one opposition. Testimony focused on changing the definition of “qualified resident” so people who already own an HHFDC-assisted unit could later purchase another if their housing needs change; HHFDC said the current rule forces people to sell before buying again and that the bill would help people move up the housing ladder and encourage more housing development. SB 2356 on parking also drew broad support from state agencies, housing advocates, business groups, and local officials, with Unite Here Local 5 in opposition. SB 2981 on land use had strong support from many organizations and 67 individuals, with Unite Here Local 5 opposing. SB 3028 SD2 on property conveyance generated the most detailed policy debate. Supporters, including Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Children’s Action Network, Indivisible Hawaii, and others, backed restructuring the conveyance tax into a marginal rate system and urged changes to revenue allocations, including dedicated funding for homeless services, DHHL, and the rental housing revolving fund. The Tax Foundation of Hawaii supported the marginal-rate concept but opposed dedicated special-fund allocations and criticized the bill’s blank sections. Committee members questioned the historical purpose of the conveyance tax, and the Tax Foundation explained it was originally a modest tax tied to property-value tracking when the state still ran the property tax system. The committee also heard SB 3187 SD2 on off-site construction, SB 2378 SD2 on housing permitting, and SB 2398 SD2 on residential housing utilities. OPSD supported SB 3187 but said it preferred the House version and wanted clarification that off-site certification should apply to factories in Hawaii, not out of state, to avoid outsourcing labor; it also suggested starting with a small scope. SB 2378 SD2 drew support from engineering, housing, and labor groups, with testimony that the House version included needed fixes to make the program insurable. On SB 2398 SD2, the Board of Water Supply opposed the bill, saying it could require disclosure of sensitive infrastructure information beyond ordinary water-availability assessments and raise critical-infrastructure and cybersecurity concerns; developers and housing groups supported the measure. No votes or final actions were taken in the portion of the hearing provided.

Transcript Highlights:

• :01.440> is<00:25:01.960> um<00:25:02.120> moving<00:25:02.760> and<00:25
• <00:25:37.880> 957<00:25:38.679> recommendation<00:25:39.159> of<00:25:39.279>
• /c><00:25:45.960> chair<00:25:46.600> so<00:25:46.799> for<00:25:47.039> S
• c> 959<00:25:48.399> we<00:25:48.520> are<00:25:48.679> going<00:25:48.840><
• 25:54.440> sb69<00:25:55.440> relating<00:25:55.840> to<00:25:56.080> CH<

Keywords: 912, senate, all

Summary: The Health and Human Services Committee heard testimony on several measures related to child welfare, health care access, overdose response, disability services, and waste management. For SB 710 on child welfare, the Department of Human Services, the Office of Wellness and Resilience, the Attorney General’s office, and multiple advocacy groups testified in support, with the Governor’s office noting support but deferring to the Attorney General on implementation because of separation-of-powers concerns. For SB 952 on child welfare services, DHS, the Governor’s office, and child- and trauma-informed care advocates supported the bill, saying it would help families access services, provide basic material support, and reduce strain on the child welfare system. SB 954 on a home health services rate study also drew support, including from DHS, the Hawaii Healthcare Association, and a public testifier who said the study would help ensure funds reach low-income, disabled, and kupuna recipients. SB 957 on overdose prevention received support from the Department of Health and the Attorney General, who said overdose prevention centers are evidence-based but raised federal-law concerns and recommended amendments; the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center and others also testified in support. The committee then moved to the 1:00 regular calendar and heard SB 850 on disability health disparity, which was supported by the Executive Office on Aging, the Hawaii State Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Hawaii Disability Rights Center, self-advocates, and others. Testimony emphasized that a disparity study could improve workforce development, training, and services for people with disabilities. SB 838 on continuous glucose monitoring drew support from health agencies and advocates, with testimony stressing that monitors can be critical for some diabetes patients. SB 829 on health care was supported by the Department of Health and health care stakeholders, who said it would help rotating physicians serve neighbor islands without local hospital privileges and align with CMS rules. SB 446 on waste management drew mixed testimony: the Department of Health and several public entities provided comments, the County of Maui opposed, and environmental advocates urged stronger aquifer protections and limits on ash reuse. During decision making, the committee adopted recommendations to pass SB 298, SB 322, SB 299, SB 450, SB 451, SB 949, SB 710, SB 957, SB 69, and SD 952 with various amendments, including technical changes, blank appropriations, and defective dates. SB 323, SB 324, SB 712, SB 950, SB 954, and SB 959 were deferred, largely because companion House measures were moving or similar Senate measures had already passed. The chair also announced recesses to find quorum and noted that some bills from the earlier Monday calendar were being deferred to avoid duplication.

Transcript Highlights:

• This includes 25 FTE.
• Deliver projects for people of Florida.
• We also measure our project delivery in terms of time and cost.
• Our statewide posture reflects five fixed infrastructure projects.
• However, due to the types of projects, the infrastructure projects, they tend to take a long time for

Summary: The committee met to review agency program funding as it prepared to build the budget, hearing brief presentations from six agencies and then taking member questions. Florida Division of Emergency Management highlighted its role in response, preparedness, recovery, and mitigation, describing a largely federal pass-through budget, major technology investments, and large disaster and preparedness grant activity. The Department of Commerce, Department of State, Florida Housing Finance Corporation, Department of Transportation, Department of Military Affairs, Florida State Guard, and Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles also summarized their budgets, staffing, and major programs, including workforce and economic development, elections and arts funding, housing assistance, transportation work programs, military readiness, state guard expansion, and highway safety and motorist services. Members focused questions on several issues: arts and library grant funding and whether award criteria had changed; Commerce’s rural infrastructure and job growth grants and why funds were not being disbursed faster; Florida Housing’s use of SAIL, Live Local, Hometown Heroes, and SHIP funds and how smaller agencies learn about and access funding; and DOT’s work program gap between agency and governor proposals. The most extensive questioning was directed to Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles about long DMV lines, vacancies, overtime, staffing shortages, and the ability to shift funds between divisions. The department said staffing and pay constraints, especially in South Florida, were driving service delays and vacancy rates, and that overtime was being used because troopers were leaving for better-paying jobs. The Florida State Guard was also questioned about its spending and procurement pace, including aircraft purchases and facilities. Its director said long procurement timelines explained the low initial spending and that obligations had risen sharply as contracts matured. Members also asked about the department’s public opposition to Amendment 3 and whether agency resources were used in that effort; the director said no contracts or purchases were made to influence the vote and said the colonel’s comments were made off the clock. The meeting ended with the chair asking agencies to respond promptly to unanswered questions, and the committee adjourned without any recorded votes or formal actions beyond receiving the presentations and questions.

Transcript Highlights:

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• > when<00:25:50.480> we're<00:25:50.679> talking<00:25:51.039> about<00:25
• :51.679> the<00:25:51.799> looming<00:25:52.799> budget<00:25:53.240> deficit
• > to<00:25:55.080> cut<00:25:55.919> you<00:25:56.039> know<00:25:56.640>
• > would<00:25:57.960> it<00:25:58.399> cover<00:25:58.840> the<00:25:59.080

Keywords: 1187, senate, all